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Posted: Fri Feb 28, 14 9:10 am
by Dave999
all the dana/spicer/borgwarner axles are the same
all shims and no threaded adjusters
dana 44 has been around since 1940s you just have a modern version. its going to be well supported and not just by the aftermarket
RATECH
will have all the bits you want for installing your centre
but then again your local jeep garage probably does as well
http://www.ratechmfg.com/dana.htm
dana instructions they are all the same
http://www2.dana.com/pdf/AXSM-0053.pdf
Dave
Posted: Sat Mar 22, 14 8:30 pm
by Johnny Dart
It looks like I'll be starting the rear axle next week now.
Everything just seams to get in the way !
I only had one kick panel when I got the Dart, so was about to import another one , when I came across these kick panels with speakers built in,
so I imported these instead.
I fitted them today, together with a pair of parcel shelf speakers.

Posted: Sat Mar 22, 14 8:34 pm
by autofetish
good place for speakers
great work

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 14 10:29 pm
by Johnny Dart
I mounted up the electric fan this evening, it's a 16" 120w item.
Wired up through a fan switch,that I fitted to the bottom tank of the rad , in place of the drain bung.
I cut out the drain bung , and soldered in a brass thin nut , to take a generic 22mm fan switch.
This is wired through a relay, to operate fully auto.
Have to see how well it works
Lower rad crossmember has taken a bit of a poggering, and will need to be straightened out, while the rad is out

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 14 9:22 pm
by Johnny Dart
This evenings job was to straighten out the rather bent ( see pic 2 above ), radiator cross member.
It was quite a job , as it was very bent and stretched, but it came back into shape fairly well,although it split a bit !
Weld up the splits , a bit more hammering, clean up with the grinder, paint.

Posted: Sat Mar 29, 14 8:01 am
by autofetish
Ratchet straps took me years to work out that trick .
Great work on the rad love the temp switch mod very clever

Posted: Sun Mar 30, 14 4:40 pm
by Johnny Dart
A bit more hammering, a bit of welding, a bit of grinding, a bit of drilling, and a bit of under seal painting.

Posted: Mon Mar 31, 14 9:46 pm
by Johnny Dart
Well .I didn't get around to doing and more workn on the axle shortening last week , so I'm on to it this week in my lunch times at work.
:
Rear discs have been re drilled to 4.5 PCD
Axle ends being cut off
3 3/4 one end and 3 1/4 the other

Posted: Mon Mar 31, 14 10:35 pm
by autofetish
I slaged you off but if you pull off this axle I will be very very impressed and take it all back 😊
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 14 7:10 pm
by Johnny Dart
autofetish wrote:I slaged you off but if you pull off this axle I will be very very impressed and take it all back 😊
I've started it now, and will see it through, whatever it takes
I'll end up with a light weight aluminium axle, 3.73 heavy duty gears,a positive locker, and disc brakes.
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 14 7:17 pm
by Johnny Dart
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 14 8:21 pm
by Mossy68
Impressive stuff JD.
Great thread. Keep the updates coming.

Posted: Thu Apr 03, 14 7:01 pm
by Johnny Dart
A bit more lunch hour work today.
Welded the axle ends, and now finished the axle, apart from offering it up with the wheels on , and centralising it with the wheel tubs, and leaf springs, tack the spring perches, with the right pinion angle ect.
I now need to start on the half shafts.
Welds placed to minimise distortion.
Welding round the ends.
Done

Posted: Thu Apr 03, 14 7:36 pm
by Steve
Very nice work mate...and looks like you have all the kit as well....fantastic!

Posted: Thu Apr 03, 14 8:15 pm
by Johnny Dart
Steve wrote:Very nice work mate...and looks like you have all the kit as well....fantastic!

Thanks Steve, yes I do have access to tools ect, and it does make a job easier.
Still quite a bit to do. The shortening of the axle case was quite easy, and I could do it all myself.
Shortening the axles themselves is another story.
I can't do that, but have a friendly guy with a machine shop that has a cunning plan to shorten the shafts.
I then need to fit the diff centre locker.
Watch this space